Compaq nc6000 Wireless Security - Page 3

Mobile Device Security and HP Protect Tools HP saw the need for better security solutions very early, and started devoting resources to addressing this issue. As a result of this proactive effort, HP has developed a solution - the HP ProtectTools Security Manager - that not only meets mobility and wireless requirements, but is also extensible and therefore can easily grow to handle new threats and offer new technologies as they become available. Businesses trying to implement client device security face a dizzying number of choices that may not always work well together. In addition, security solutions can be difficult to deploy and use. If a technology is difficult to use, most users will avoid using it. This further complicates the task of making client devices secure. Client device security options feature a number of capabilities based on a variety of technologies: • Notebook and desktop computers can be configured with Smart Card readers. • Handheld devices now offer integrated biometric readers and incorporate security solutions for data encryption and user authentication • The Trusted Platform Module - or TPM - embedded security chip designed to the Trusted Computing Group (TCG) standard, is available on a range of HP commercial products. • Biometrics are expected to become more important as those technologies mature and become more suitable for enterprise deployment. In addition, many client devices include security features that exist within the device BIOS. These include features such as: • Pre-boot authentication - the ability to authenticate users before allowing the system to boot • Device configuration lock down • Remote management capabilities While these security features increasingly rely on established industry standards, and therefore better integrate with other elements of IT security, there are still challenges that keep these features from being widely deployed and used. These challenges include: • Usability: technologies and features that are difficult to use • Manageability: technologies and features that are difficult to manage, particularly on a large scale • Awareness: IT managers and users are not aware of a feature or do not understand its purpose • Interoperability: features or services need to span multiple technologies • Extensibility: solutions must adapt as security needs grow and newer technologies and features become available • Services: implementation support to assist the customer in enabling product-based security attributes is often expensive and complex The HP ProtectTools Security Manager is a security platform that addresses these challenges by using add-on software modules, which provide important client security features. New features may be added easily by installing new modules. This architecture gives users an easy-to-use, all-in-one security solution. 3